Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-15
Legitimate Trade Fairly Active
According to Dun-An Average
of Failures.
Excited State of the Metal Markets
The Hand of the French Syn
dicate.
Nothing Elastic About the Rubber Trust
Based on the Standard Oil
Plan.

season, though embarrassed IL some
branches by the fluctuations in the specu-
lative markets. Speculation in products,
after few days of wild advance, has taken
u turn downward, the natural result
of enormous sales TO realize. With rapidly
expanding currency, money is generally
easier than week ago, though rates are
still high at many points and complaints OF
slow collections do not diminish. Agita-
ton of the tariff question already begins 10
cause revision OF calculations Tor the 1u-
:ure in some departments. The sharp de-
cline in real estate speculations and prices
at some Southern and Western points tends
to check developments there, and sub
jects investment to some financial
strain. Large sales Of Bessemer iron at
$3.50 are reported, and a sale OF steel rails
netting 81 at the mill has been made.
Buyers still are backward, but some
brokers openly offer below S32. Coal has
declined, orders slackening. Woolens do
not improve in demand; and heavy goods
open in some cases below last years prices,
SO that manufacturers are not encouraged
to Increase their purchases Of raw wool,
which appears rather weaker. Raw cotton
has declined one-eighth cent, but goods are
held at recent advances. the boot and
shoe trade is large and promising, with
exceptionally good payments and cheaper
material, but there IS complaint that COM
petition cuts down prices too far. Leather
is weaker. The movement of freight west
ward shows an increase OF 15,0OO tons Tor
November, and eastbound shipments
are increasing. But the bank ex-
changes of all cities outside OF New
York begin TO fall below those of last year;
the decline at all cities last week was l4.5
per cent and outside OF New Y ork, 80 per
cent. At most interior points trade is re-
ported far for the season, but collections
are slow at Detroit, fair ut Memphis and
Omaha, and rather better at Kansas City.
Money at Chicago is in unabahed demand at
per cent. and operators bid for funds to
carry products at interior towns. Though
the money markets are, on the whole,
easier, the pressure at speculative centers
continues. Stocks have been weaker since
Congress met, as frequently happens.
Wheat speculation reached 1U5,OOO,OW
bushels for the week, and prices advanced
sharply, only to close shade lower than
week ago Corn and oats in spite OF
the recent reaction, gain &c aud 11sc
for the week, and oil is unchanged.
Coffee has advanced &c, and tue excite
ment in minor metals has lifted copper
171c, and TIN nearly 1c per pound, but The
reaction in pork products takes prices
little lower than week ago. The average
rise in food products since July l was
shade over twenty per cent on Tuesday,
and it is questioned whether the legitimate
effect of partial failure of crops has not
been fully realized in prices, but the in
creasing supply of currency still tends to
keep speculation active. The business
failures during the last seven days num-
Der, for the United States, 226, and Tor
Canada, 2S; total, 254, compared with "a
last week, and 274 the corresponding week
OF last year.
THE METAL MARKETS.
NEW YORK, Dec. IA Boston dispatch
yesterday stated that an Eastern meta
firm had offered to take the entire produc-
lion OF all the copper mines In this country:
except the Calumet and Hecla-just now
non-productive on account of tire--for the
ensuing year, at 1513c per pound. Il is
thought here that no mining company
would entertain such proposition In view
of the present price OF copper.
Tin was strong yesterday. Copper very
strong and gradually advancing. Closing
prices were for Lake lngot copper-1617t
for spot; December deliveries, III. 70c, anC
February, March and April, 10 soc bid AID
no sellers. Even 17c was offered for the
latter future and refused. In London the
market continued its upward movement
for Chill bars, and closed last night with
large business doing at the highest point Il
has reached in many years. In fact, s.nce
the great boom of 1S72-3 Chill bars nave
not been so high as they closed lastsnIgLt-
Ell los spot aud 4I2 5S futures. There
were plenty of buyers thereat, but no
1AO oyH0lCdtS uppuISAl!y
buying every ton OF copper until tue mar
ket prices reach ESD a ton.
The extraordinary advance in iron in
Glasgow during the last three days-5s
per ton, or from u to Is per cent.-has,
according to private cables, had the effect
OF rousing he speculative spirit to an ex-
traordlnary pitch the other side. New
York metal men say the excitement in the
European iron market is naturally having
great effect upon all subsidiary metals
over the whole world.
THE RUBBER TRUST.
NEW YORK. Dec. lU-The manufacturers
of rubber boots and shoes have, after re-
peated unsuccessful efforts, concluded the
formation of a trust. After being in ses-
sion all of Wednesday and Thursday the
manufacturers perfected the organization
of what is now to be known as the Boston
Rubber Boot and Shoe Trust The attor-
neys for the trust are Alexander q Green,
assisted by h. b. Hyde, of Boston They
are the lawyers who assisted in drawing
up the papers for the Standard OIL Com
pany, and the working of these documents,
on which the greatest trust is based, was
adopted by the new organization. The
agreements, providing for the placing OF
tue stock of the several companies IN
escrow, and which also cover the condition
under which the companies entcr the trust
nave been signed by all those present at
the meeting. committee was appointed
to secure the signatures of The smaller
companies not present All the other large
companies have signifed their intention &c
enter the trust oy preliminary agreement
The Third OF the Gang.
CLEVELAND, o., Dec. 9.-The iury which
Is TO sit upon the case OF James Robinson
the third of the Ravenna rescuers, was Sc
cured to-day, after four days spent in ex-
aiming jurors. The first witness exam
ined was Conductor Lewis Myers, of the
CleYeland & PI1tShnro road ,.,ho sn;li